The history of
Stirling has a wealth of legends and events from William Wallace who
fought and won the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297 against an
occupying English army, to the Battle of Bannockburn where Robert the Bruce's defeat of another English army in June 1314 secured Scottish independence.

Stirling heritage
dates back 800 years to the twelfth century, when the town first
received the burgh title. It was granted a Royal Charter, becoming one
of the most important towns of medieval Scotland.

Stirling's
importance developed from the fact that it controlled the lowest
crossing point of the River Forth. The land to the west of the river was
bog and marshland making it impassable for armies to cross. The land
was eventually drained in later centuries.

Building
on its historic foundations to create an exciting mix of the old and
new, Stirling has a thriving centre. Big enough to offer the full 'city
experience' of shopping, café culture and nightlife, Stirling is still
compact enough to retain a warm community feel, making it a home from
home that's as easy to get around. The cosmopolitan city centres of
Glasgow and Edinburgh can be visited within 1 hour by car or train from
Stirling.